Document management system

ABSTRACT

A document management system. The system includes a pegboard including a plurality of holes arranged in rows and columns, at least one hanging folder having a first cover and a second cover connected at a fold line, each of the first and second covers including a pair of hanging members extending laterally therefrom, and first and second clip supports, each clip support including an attachment member integrally connected to at least one arm. Each arm is oriented generally perpendicularly to the attachment member and includes first and second retainers for positively locating the hanging members of the first and second covers of a hanging folder relatively to the at least one arm. Each attachment member includes an engagement member integral to the attachment member for engaging at least one of the holes of the peg board.

INTRODUCTION

Various systems for storing and/or displaying hanging folders are known.

Although the existing systems can be satisfactory for their intendedpurposes, there is still a need for hanging folder systems that areefficient, inexpensive and easy to use.

SUMMARY

The present teachings provide a document management system. The systemincludes a peg board including a plurality of holes arranged in rows andcolumns, at least one hanging folder having a first cover and a secondcover connected at a fold line, each of the first and second coversincluding a pair of hanging members extending laterally therefrom, andfirst and second clip supports, each clip support including anattachment member integrally connected to at least one arm. Each arm isoriented generally perpendicularly to the attachment member and includesfirst and second retainers for positively locating the hanging membersof the first and second covers of a hanging folder relatively to thearm. Each attachment member includes an engagement member integral tothe attachment member for engaging at least one of the holes of the pegboard.

The present teachings also provide a kit for mounting hanging folders ona peg board. The kit includes a plurality of hanging folders, at leastone peg board having a plurality of holes, a plurality of single-armclip supports, and a plurality of multi-arm clip supports. Eachsingle-arm clip support includes an attachment member and a single armintegrally extending from the attachment member, each attachment memberdefining at least one peg board engagement member. Each single armsuspends and positively locates a hanging member of one of the hangingfolders. Each multiple-arm clip support includes an attachment memberand at least two arms, each arm integrally extending from the attachmentmember, each attachment member defining at least one peg boardengagement member. Each arm of the multiple-arm clip supports suspendsand positively locates a hanging member of one of the hanging folders.

The present teachings further provide a method of hanging folders on apeg board. The method includes providing a peg board and at least onehanging folder, providing first and second clip supports, each clipsupport comprising an attachment member integrally connected to at leastone arm, mounting the first and second clip supports on the peg board,the attachment members of the first and second clip supports in aparallel and spaced apart configuration for accommodating a width of ahanging folder, hanging at least one hanging folder between theattachment members of the first and second clip supports, and retainingthe at least one folder on corresponding arms of the first and secondclip supports.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the description provided hereinafter. It should beunderstood that the description and specific examples are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a document management system according to thepresent teachings, the system illustrating multi-arm clip supports;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a document management system according to thepresent teachings, the system illustrating single-arm clip supports;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a document management system according to thepresent teachings, the system illustrating a single-arm clip support;and

FIG. 5 is a detail of a clip support for a document management systemaccording to the present teachings.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary document management system 100according to the present teachings is illustrated mounted on a peg board102 that includes a plurality of holes 104 arranged in rows and columns.The document management system 100 can include two or more clip supports130. The clip supports 130 can be mounted on peg holes 104 of the pegboard 102 using engagement members 140, illustrated in FIG. 5. The clipsupports 130 can be spaced apart relative to each other at distancesthat can accommodate hanging folders 120 of various widths and sizes.Each hanging folder includes first and second covers 110, 112 connectedat a fold line 115.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, each clip support 130 can include an attachmentmember 106 integrally coupled with one or more arms 108. The attachmentmember 106 can be mounted on the peg board 102 with one or moreengagement members 140, as shown in FIG. 5. Each engagement member 140can be integrally or modularly coupled at a back surface of theattachment member 106. In particular, the engagement member 140 can bemolded as one piece with the clip support 130. Each engagement member140 can included as integral portions an upper and upward curvedextension or hook 142 and a lower straight peg 144. The hook 142 isinserted at an angle through one of the holes 104 of the peg board 102,and then rotated such that the peg 144 is received straight into anotherhole 104 of the peg board 102 further below.

Each arm 108 can include at least two spaced apart retainers 114, 116for receiving oppositely extending hanging members 124, 126 associatedeach of with the front and back covers 110, 112 of each folder 120. Thehanging members 124, 126 extend laterally from each of the front andback covers 110, 112 and can be separate members, or can also berespective ends of integral longitudinal elements 122, such as, forexample, the end hooks of the hanging strips that are used in hangingfolders of the type sold under the trademarks Pentaflex®, Duo-Tang®, orother similar hanging folders 120. The retainers 114,116 can be grooves,as shown, or other retaining devices, such as separate clips, or otherdevices included within the grooves, and can include snap-in, detent,spring or other retention mechanisms and combinations thereof. Theretainers 114, 116 can be configured to resist accidental disengagementof the hanging members 124, 126, as shown in FIG. 5, which illustratesthe retainers 114, 116 as grooves or channels provided withdisengagement-resisting hooks or extensions 150.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the clip support 130 can be a multi-arm clipsupport that includes a plurality of arms 108 integrally extending fromthe attachment member 106. In particular, the arms 108 can be molded asone piece with the attachment member. The arms 108 can extend at anangle, such as a ninety-degree angle, from the attachment member 106,and can be oriented substantially parallel to one another. The multi-armclip supports 130 can be used to mount a plurality of folders 120 in anested configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of single-arm clip supports 130that are arranged in a collective configuration 107 or singly 109 areillustrated. Each single-arm clip support 130 includes a single arm 108integrally extending at an angle, such as a ninety-degree angle, fromthe corresponding attachment member 106. The single-arm clip supports130 can be used singly to support a single hanging folder 120, as shownin FIG. 4, or in a vertical array of parallel rows and columns forsupporting a plurality of hanging folders 120, and optionally in anested configuration.

The clip supports 130 can be made of plastic, metal or other materialwith appropriate load bearing properties for supporting different sizesof hanging folders and their contents. The document management system100 can be also provided conveniently as a kit that includes a pluralityof single-arm and/or multiple arm clip supports 130; and optionally,hanging folders, and one or more peg boards.

It will be appreciated that the document management system 100 describedabove can be manufactured inexpensively, shipped and stored as a kit inspace-saving containers, and is easy to set up and use. Furthermore,versatile modular arrangements and hanging folder displays can becreated using various combinations of single-arm and/or multiple armclip supports.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryarrangements of the present invention. One skilled in the art willreadily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanyingdrawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

1. A document management system comprising: a peg board including aplurality of holes arranged in rows and columns; at least one hangingfolder having a first cover and a second cover connected at a fold line,each of the first and second covers including a pair of hanging membersextending laterally therefrom; and first and second clip supports, eachclip support including an attachment member integrally connected to atleast one arm, each arm oriented generally perpendicularly to theattachment member and including first and second retainers forsuspending and positively locating the hanging members of the first andsecond covers of the at least one hanging folder relatively to the atleast one arm, each attachment member including an engagement memberintegral to the attachment member for engaging at least one of the holesof the peg board.
 2. The document management system of claim 1, whereinthe first and second clip supports are mounted on the peg board parallelto one another, such that a plurality of hanging folders can besupported on a corresponding plurality of arms in a nestedconfiguration.
 3. The document management system of claim 1, wherein theretainers are grooves including disengagement resisting elements.
 4. Thedocument management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm ofeach clip support is a single arm.
 5. The document management system ofclaim 1, wherein each clip support includes at least two parallel armssuch that the first and second clip supports suspend at least twohanging folders.
 6. The document management system of claim 1, whereinthe hanging members are integrally defined at corresponding ends of alongitudinal hanging element.
 7. The document management system of claim5, wherein the at least two hanging folders are oriented relative to oneanother in a nested relationship.
 8. The document management system ofclaim 3, wherein the disengagement resisting elements include hooksextending from the grooves.
 9. A method of hanging folders on a pegboard, the method comprising: providing a peg board and at least onehanging folder; providing first and second clip supports, each clipsupport comprising an attachment member integrally connected to at leastone arm; mounting the first and second clip supports on the peg board,the attachment members of the first and second clip supports in aparallel and spaced apart configuration for accommodating a width of thehanging folder; hanging the at least one hanging folder between theattachment members of the first and second clip supports; and retainingthe at least one folder on corresponding arms of the first and secondclip supports.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each clip supportincludes at least two arms and further comprising hanging a plurality ofhanging folders in a nested configuration relative to one another. 11.The method of claim 9, wherein mounting the first and second clipsupports on the peg board comprises engaging the attachment members ofthe first and second clip supports to corresponding holes of the pegboard.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each hanging folder includesfirst and second hanging elements, and further comprising positivelylocating the hanging elements relatively to the corresponding arms. 13.The method of claim 10, further comprising resisting disengagement ofthe hanging folders from the corresponding arms.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein resisting disengagement comprises providing on each armretainers having disengagement resisting elements.
 15. A kit formounting hanging folders on a peg board, the kit comprising: a pluralityof hanging folders; at least one peg board having a plurality of holes;a plurality of single-arm clip supports, each single-arm clip supportcomprising an attachment member and a single arm integrally extendingfrom the attachment member, each attachment member defining at least onepeg board engagement member, each single arm suspending and positivelylocating a hanging member of one of the hanging folders; and a pluralityof multi-arm clip supports, each multiple-arm clip support comprising anattachment member and at least two arms, each arm integrally extendingfrom the attachment member, each attachment member defining at least onepeg board engagement member, each arm of the at least two armssuspending and positively locating a hanging member of one of thehanging folders.
 16. The kit of claim 15, wherein each arm comprises apair of hanging folder retainers for positively locating correspondinghanging members of one of the hanging folders.
 17. The kit of claim 10,wherein each attachment member comprises at least one peg boardengagement member.
 18. The kit of claim 15, wherein at least two of theplurality of hanging folders are suspended from a pair of multi-am clipsin a nested relationship.
 19. The kit of claim 15, wherein at least oneof the single-arm of the single-arm clip supports and at least two armsof the multi-arm clip supports include a disengagement resistingelement.
 20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the disengagement resistingelement includes a hook extending from a groove.